Monday, November 7, 2016

It Won't Be Over Anytime Soon

Tomorrow is election day in the US. Those who have not already voted will go to the polls. Some who have already voted will go to the polls again. Some who aren't citizens will go to the polls. Some who aren't citizens will go to the polls several times.

US elections are no different than anywhere else in the world. They are rife with fraud and in many cases the results are already determined long before the polls open. Jerrymandering precludes one party or the other from success. Bribery and corruption tilt the results in some places. Voter ignorance and apathy compound the problem.

We get the same result every time. The same politicians are elected. The same ideologues are promoted. The same parties hold power.

Someone once said doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. In a country like the US, this is so very true. We elect Democrats and are unhappy with the results so we elect Republicans and are unhappy with the results so we elect Democrats and are unhappy with the results so we elect Republicans and are unhappy with the results so we elect.... You get the idea. We never seem to learn that there really is no difference between the two. They are alike in all the ways that make a difference: economy, foreign policy, national security. They differ only in the social issues they use to manipulate us, issues that affect a small number of people but are blown out of proportion so that everyone feels part of the problem.

Worst of all, they have us convinced that there is no escape from this cycle. If we try to vote outside the box, they berate and deride us as unpatriotic or unfeeling, racist or bigoted, ignorant and selfish. Sanity is looked on as bizarre and perverse.

Tomorrow's elections, when Hillary wins, won't change anything. If Donald wins (and that would be a huge surprise), it won't change anything. Life will go on as it always has. The presidents don't change things. People do. What the presidents and politicians do is manipulate and steer public opinion through the media to get what they want done. That way they can avoid culpability for failure without fear of retribution or claim credit for success.

This is the last entry for this blog. I find that trying to comment on the political and social scene in America has left such a bad taste in my mouth that I cannot stomach it any longer.

The Commentator

I have been writing speculative fiction for over 40 years, but only
recently have I been able to pursue it full-time. After retiring from
my position as an air traffic controller, I decided to devote myself to
my writing, not realizing I was trading one stressful career for
another. Nevertheless, through my short fiction and novels, at least I
have an outlet for my obsession with the written word.